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The introduction of the new European Entry/Exit System (EES), an invention of the European Commission, is increasing the already long queues at EU airports’ border controls, when passengers arrive from a non-Schengen country.

Despite chaos at airports, Commission President Von der Leyen sticks to new border controls

In his weekly column, N. Peter Kramer writes about the dramatically long queues for non-Schengen passengers at EU airports, caused by a disfunctioning new border control system invented by the European Commission. An end of this drama is not in sight.

EU’s automotive industry is in serious trouble. And by extension the EU industry.

Volkswagen is going to lay off 100.000 employees: EU’s automotive industry is in serious trouble

By: N. Peter Kramer | Wednesday, July 1, 2026

In his weekly column, N. Peter Kramer, writes about the alarming decline of the largest industrial employer in the EU, Volkswagen. EU leaders and the entire automotive sector did not seem to know how to handle China.

Zelenski reopened a historical wound, caused a diplomatic row, and played into the hands of Russian propaganda. Didn’t Putin once mention a necessary ‘denazification of Ukraine’?

Zelensky made a grave mistake

By: N. Peter Kramer | Wednesday, June 24, 2026

In his weekly column, N. Peter Kramer, writes about the horrible ‘mistake’ made by President Zelensky, that lead to a serious diplomatic row between Ukraine and Poland, one of the besieged country’s most loyal allies.

Berlin, Paris and other EU capitals would like to strip powers from the EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas and her EEAS to improve the EU’s response to geopolitical crises.

Has the EU diplomatic service EEAS had its day?

By: N. Peter Kramer | Monday, June 15, 2026

In his weekly column, N. Peter Kramer writes about proposals for a radical overhaul of the EEAS and the power struggle between Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas.

Trust between the frontline states and the other member states that must show solidarity with Greece, Italy, Spain and Cyprus will be crucial. This solidarity will only last if the countries on the external borders take their responsibility and do everything ‘by the book’.

Will the EU migration pact work?

By: N. Peter Kramer | Wednesday, June 10, 2026

In his weekly column, N. Peter Kramer writes about the new EU migration pact, that starts on Friday June 12 and demands trust and solidarity between the 27 member states.

The EU is still a long way from consensus on a new China strategy. Germany, still EU’s largest economy, pleads as usual for caution to protect its export. France, Italy, Spain and some more member states argue for a strict approach

An as usual divided EU is looking for a more assertive China strategy

By: N. Peter Kramer | Wednesday, June 3, 2026

In his weekly column, N. Peter Kramer writes about the laborious efforts of the EU member states to find a more assertive China strategy.

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It is clear that the agreement is disadvantageous for EU companies, but still better than an open trade war with the US. And, now there is an end date attached to it.

EU tries to give sharper teeth to tariff agreement with US

By: N. Peter Kramer | Wednesday, May 20, 2026

In his weekly column, N. Peter Kramer writes about EU’s capitulation for Trump and hope that after him a better tariff agreement will be possible.

All policies became based on the extreme disaster scenario. Billions disappeared into climate funds.

The climate hysteria is officially over

By: N. Peter Kramer | Monday, May 11, 2026

In his weekly column, N. Peter Kramer writes that the climate hysteria is officially over, a turn that doesn’t come as a surprise to insiders.

Feeding the sense of urgency was the US president’s announced removal of 5.000 troops and long-range missiles from bases in Germany. Missiles were placed there by Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden to deter future Russian aggression.

Trump looms over European attempt at unity

By: N. Peter Kramer | Wednesday, May 6, 2026

In his weekly column, N. Peter Kramer writes that Donald Trump once again loomed large over the latest attempt by European leaders to demonstrate unity, without mentioning the US president’s name.

The member states have yet to agree on their negotiation position. They are not prepared to increase their national contribution to the EU budget. Most of them are raising already their national budgets for defense, energy networks and industries. Key net EU contributors such as Germany and the Netherlands considered already the Commission proposal too ambitious.

European Parliament challenges member-states with an additional budget increase of 10 percent

By: N. Peter Kramer | Wednesday, April 29, 2026

In his weekly column, N. Peter Kramer writes how the EP opposes Commission’s proposal to cut back on traditional programmes such as agriculture and cohesion

From the European Parliament MEPs the first reaction was, that Von der Leyen’s blunder contradicts signals for closer cooperation with Turkey in the field of security and defense.

Von der Leyen puts NATO member and EU candidate country Turkey in line with Russia and China

By: N. Peter Kramer | Wednesday, April 22, 2026

According to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, you can put Russia, Turkey and China in line.

Ursula von der Leyen seems to think that she should set foreign policy. But that task falls under the responsibility of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. The Commission President also often ignores Council President Antonio Costa and contact directly council members, the heads of the EU member states.

In foreign affairs, the EU is on the sidelines

By: N. Peter Kramer | Wednesday, April 15, 2026

The European Union is increasingly on the sidelines. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU seemed to regain its role. It reacted quickly and unanimously with heavy sanctions against Russia.

An American decision to partially withdraw tens of thousands of soldiers in Europe would not surprise no one. The European stance that Operation Epic Fury is ‘not our war’ gives the US a chance to mirror this attitude in the Ukraine dossier.

Europe is terrified by a single sentence from Trump

By: N. Peter Kramer | Wednesday, April 8, 2026

The current NATO conflict surrounding the Iran war is fundamentally different from previous ones.

Georgia Meloni is the first woman to serve as Italian prime minister and, in office since October 2022, heading the third-longest government in the history of the Italian Republic.

The tale of two successful iron ladies, Frederiksen and Meloni

By: N. Peter Kramer | Wednesday, April 1, 2026

The social-democrat Frederiksen and the far-right Meloni are not natural allies but have a shared priority: migration

Despite the question on the ballot paper was quite complex and many Italians struggled to understand the technical details, the turnout was almost 60%, a high figure for Italian standards. The vote morphed into a plebiscite on Meloni’s near-record three and half years in office.

Referendum defeat rubbed off the shine of Meloni and her government

By: N. Peter Kramer | Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has lost a referendum on a constitutional reform which had turned into a vote on her government.

In the past the dilemma was confined to the RN, regarded as beyond the pale. But this year, the ostracism of the LFI is a new feature in French politics. Under its leader, Jean-Luc Melanchon, LFI formed an alliance with PS, Greens and Communists to give the left a strong showing in the last legislative election in 2024. But the pact has unravelled.

Far-left and far-right gains throw French mainstream parties into a quandary

By: N. Peter Kramer | Wednesday, March 18, 2026

In many big towns and cities, Socialists and centre-right Republicans are tempted to make electoral pacts on their outside flanks to beat the opposition in next Sunday’s run off of the French mayoral elections.

Recently, the Commission President said the EU had made a ‘strategic mistake’ in moving away from nuclear energy. She betrayed by saying that not only her political mentor Angela Merkel, who halted one overnight the use of nuclear energy. But also the former Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans also known as the Climate-Pope.

President Ursula von der Leyen has seen better days

By: N. Peter Kramer | Wednesday, March 11, 2026

EU leaders, member states, MEPs, EP political groups have had it with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Europe’s Big Three, France, Germany and the UK, did manage to issue a joint statement, warning Iran they were ready to take ‘defensive action’ to destroy its ability to fire missiles and drones unless Tehran stopped its ‘indiscriminate attacks’.

The EU struggles to find a united voice

By: N. Peter Kramer | Wednesday, March 4, 2026

EU leaders knew this may coming. For weeks, they watched the US military build-up in the Middle East. But since the US-Israeli attack started on Iran, the EU looked fractured and decidedly without leverage, caught up in the maelstrom of what happens.

Are the hundreds of billions for defense being spent wisely, in for 95 percent traditional weapons? At the Munich Security Conference Moritz Schularick, director of the specialised research Kiel Institute, said that over 800 billion euros in additional investment in the next years are ‘no guarantee that Europe will become more secure!’. He advocated for greater attention to innovation.

After a painful NATO exercise: are all those billions for defense being spent wisely?

By: N. Peter Kramer | Tuesday, February 17, 2026

NATO reported on its website about a large-scale exercise organised by a multinational battlegroup in Estonia. The soldiers had to train in temperatures of 20 degrees below zero. The military alliance is investing significant resources in defending its eastern flank.

Everybody knows that the European Commission is an obstacle on the way to real reforms with its dictatorial president, internal divisions among the 27 commissioners and competition between the directorates-general. On top of that, there is the European Parliament that is primarily at odds with itself or yearns for more power.

Can the EU, under pressure from major powers, turn the tide?

By: N. Peter Kramer | Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Mario Draghi and Enrico Letto, former prime ministers of Italy, wrote scathing reports on the EU competitiveness and the internal market, respectively.

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EU Actually

Despite chaos at airports, Commission President Von der Leyen sticks to new border controls

N. Peter KramerBy: N. Peter Kramer

In his weekly column, N. Peter Kramer writes about the dramatically long queues for non-Schengen passengers at EU airports, caused by a disfunctioning new border control system invented by the European Commission. An end of this drama is not in sight.

Europe

France’s Marine Le Pen, fighting court conviction and running for presidency

France’s Marine Le Pen, fighting court conviction and running for presidency

Marine Le Pen has run for the French presidency three times before, but now that she has decided to attempt it a fourth time, she has taken a gamble.

Business

How Much Pressure Can European CEOs Take?

How Much Pressure Can European CEOs Take?

There was a time when the job of the CEO was difficult but relatively clear: grow the business, beat the competition, manage costs, satisfy shareholders, inspire employees and avoid major reputational mistakes. That world has disappeared.

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